ON MY SOAPBOX AGAIN

I recently ran across a blog someone else wrote about the "southern baptist association of Christian schools" which is a organization that wants to use its considerable influence to create a "new public school system.," I stole some of his thoughts, but I think this is too important to not pass on. While I do think there are some serious flaws in the public school system, i have several issues with the idea of creating a "christian only" school world.

1. parents should not look to ANY school system whether public,private, or christian to raise their children to be godly. Raising children has to happen in the home not at school.

2. no church denomination should be asking for a mass exodus from any school system. I think it goes completely against the concept of christians being salt and light in the world. If it were up to some people, lights would only associate with other lights and too many of us think light should never even come in contact with darkness. What about being in the world but not of it?

3. Where children are educated is a decision that needs to be made by PARENTS and a church denomination should not be advocating much less organizing a way for us to not be around non-christians. If a parent asked me, I would encourage them to do just the opposite. I certainly wouldn't say send your kids to the most dangerous school in town on purpose, but i also wouldn't encourage them to keep them in the house at all costs. We need to know how to interact with others who haven't had their eyes opened to life in Jesus.

4. parents and churches need to accept some responsibility. We can not rely on the government to somehow legislate righteousness. If we would raise our children to follow AND model Jesus,(1 timothy 4:12) we might be able to influence the public schools instead of bail on them. We can't long for the glory days of when we used to be able to pray in school. I don't even want to know what school prayer would look like now because it would take 5 hours to cover every god and be "PC". The students have to take the initiative, not the govt.

I'm not against christian education (most of those kids certainly aren't any "holier" than public school kids. I just have to look in the mirror to prove that one). I am not against homeschooling your children. I am simply stating that I spend enough time in public schools each week to see the incredible need for salt and light and people who will be the light to this generation.


whats next? maybe we start a christian grocery store so that we don't expose ourselves to cosmo in the check out lane. Maybe we can all pool our money together and buy 10,000 acres in new mexico (next to ted turners) and start a christian only town. lets never underestimate our calling and responsibility to shine like bright lights, in a crooked and perverse generation.(phil.2:15)

"you are the light of the world. like a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead it is placed on a stand so that it give light to everyone"-matt. 5:14-15

FATHER SET ME ON FIRE FOR YOU, SO PEOPLE WILL COME WATCH ME BURN!!!!!!